Coat and trousers hanger



June 29, 1943. GA, HIGGINS, JR

I COAT AND TROUSERS HANGER Filed Feb. 4. v1942 Patented June 29, 1943UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE COAT ANn TROUSERS HANGER George A. Higgins,Jr., Huntington, Application February 4, 1942, Serial No. 429,537

8 Claims. oiLzzs-si) This invention is a novel improvement in coat andtrousers hangers, and the principal object of the invention is toprovide a hanger of simple construction which may be formed ofrelatively still wire, and may be utilized not only as a hanger for menscoats and trousers, but may also be used for hanging many othergarments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hanger of the above typeincluding a pair' of clamping bars carried by the hanger, said barsbeing supported by pairs of vertically disposed wires at each end ratherthan by a singlepair of wires at the central or middle portion, wherebythe bars will exert a double clamping effect upon the garment which isheld therebetween, thejpairs of wires at each end of the clamping bars"being (disposed in parallel relation and terminating at their upperends in upwardly extending loops having narrow entrances to yieldablyreceive eyes slidably mounted on the pairs of vertical wires,

"which eyes are connected together by a single horizontally disposedactuating member, whereby when the actuating member is raised the eyesat the lower ends of the pairs of wires to be separated sufficiently toplacea garment therebetween without having to manually hold the clampingmember in raised position; said eyes of the clamping member beingreadily released from the loops when the clamping member is subsequentlymanually depressed to slide the eyes downwardly on the pairs of wiresand thereby draw the lower ends of the pairs of wires and consequentlythe clamping bars together.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a hanger of the abovetype having an extension at its upper end beside the support engaginghook for holding a hat or the like; and to provide a. hanger having amodified hook for supporting thehanger designed to eliminate catching ofthe outer end of the hook on garments or other hangers.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

Iwill explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing,which illustrates several practical embodiments thereof, to enableothers to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims thenovel features of con struction for which protection is desired.

In said drawing:

sers hanger.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. l Fig. 3 is a horizontal section onthe line 33, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4--4, Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of a modification. As shown, my novel coatand trousers hanger is preferably formed of wire of suitable size andrigidity, said hanger being of substantially triangular shape andconsisting of a pair of upwardly converging wires l and 2, forming theupper portions of the inclined sides of the triangular hanger, whichwires l and 2 are twisted together as at 3 at the apex of the hanger tolock the same together. Wire I, continues beyond the twisted portion 3and is shaped to form a relatively large hook 4 adapted 'to be hung overa horizontal supporting rod or the like in the usual manner, the outertip of the hook portion 4 being formed as a smallloop5 the outer end ofwhich contacts .the inner periphery of hook 4 to eliminate catching thehook 4 in garments or other hangers, and also to hold the hook 4yieldably upon the supporting rod.

The wire 2 above the twisted portion 3 preferably continues in anupwardly inclined direction as at G to a. point above the upper end ofhook 4, and terminates in a loop 1 serving as a convenient hat supportfor the hanger. However, the members 6 and 1 may be omitted, if desired,and the wire 2 discontinued above twist 3.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, a third wire 8 forms the base of thetriangular hanger, wire 8 having upwardly bent portions 8a. forming thelower corners of the triangle, the portions of the wire 8 beyond thebends 8a continuing upwardly and inwardly as at 8b at-angles insubstantial alignment with the wires I and 2 below twist 3, to the lowerends of which wires l and the portions 8b are joined, as hereinafterexplained.

Upon wire 8, at the center of the hanger, is a fixed clamping bar 9forming one ofthe clamps of the trousers hanger, said wire 8 preferablypassing through a longitudinal bore in the clamp 9.

The meeting ends of the lower portions of wires l and 2, and the upperportions 8b of wire 8, are twisted together as at H), said twistedportion extending substantially horizontally and inwardly of the hanger,the lower ends of wires I and 2 beyond the twists I0 being bent to formupwardly extending loops ll having narrow entrances at the lower ends ofthe loops H, said wires I and 2 beyond the loops ll extending downwardlyas at I2, and being anchored in clamping bar 9 to prevent rotation oraxial movement thereof on wire 8. v

The portions 8b of wire 8, beyond the twists II], are likewise bent toform upwardly extending loops I6 (Figs. 2 and 4) which are disposeddirectly opposite and adjacent their related loops I I, said loops I6being of same size and shape as loops II, the wires 8b beyond the loopsI6 extending downwardly, as at IT, directly opposite and adjacent wiresI2, said wires I! having their lower ends anchored in a second clampingbar I8 disposed parallel with and adjacent the clamping bar 9, wherebythe clamping bars 9 and I8 may be separated when the wire portions I2and I! are separated, and may be drawn together when the wires I2 and I!are drawn together.

The loop portions II and I6 of the wires I, 2'

and 8 preferably have narrow entrances at their' lower ends, thevertical portions of the loops passing closely adjacent the ends of thetwisted por tions I9, and vertically slidably, mounted upon the pairs ofwires I2 and Il is a horizontally disposed actuating member I9 havingeyes 29 at its ends embracing their respective pairs of vertical wiresI2 and I1, said eyes 29 being of such diameter that when the member I 9is lowered the wires I 2 and I1 will be drawn together and will draw theclamping bars .9 and I8 together, but when the member I9 is movedupwardly the clamping bars 9 and I8 may be separated to insert thegarment therebetween. v

An importantfeature of my invention is to provide means for maintainingthe actuating member IS in raised position preparatory to placing thegarment between the clamps 9 and I5. According tojthe above constructionthe member I9 may be moved upwardly until the eyes thereof pass throughthe narrow entrances of the yieldable loops II and I6, whereby the eyes29 will maintain the member I9 in elevated position due to thepositioning of the eyes 20 abovethe contracted lower ends of the loops:II and I6, and thus it will not be necessary for the operator toutilize one hand to hold member I9 raised in position while positioningthe garment between the clamping bars 9 and I8, which bars when themember I 9 is. raised may be separated to permit the garment to beinserted therebetween. As soon however as the garment has been so placedthe member I9 may be lowered under a slight pressure to disengage theeyes 29 from their posi- ,tions within the loops I I and I6, and themember I9 depressed to a point adjacent the clamping bars 9 and I8,whereupon the eyes 20 will have drawn the clamping bars 9 and I8 intolocking position to clamp the garment therebetween.

Instead of using a. continuous base wire 8, as shown in Figs. lf'to 4inclusive, wire sections 2| may be used, as indicated in Fig. 5, saidsections 2 I having their inner ends merely anchored in the ends ofthefixed clamping bar 9. However, each wire section 2| isof such lengththat it may be formed into the'shape's corresponding with portions8-a'8b-Ill-I5 and ll of wire 8 as shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

I do not limit my invention to the exact forms shown in the drawing, forobviously changes may be made therein within'the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A hanger, comprising an open frame formed of relatively stiff wire orthe like, and having a hook; the opposite sides of the frame beingformed of upper and lower substantially aligned wiresectionsrespect-ively overlapping at their adjacent ends, saidoverlapping portions of the upper and lower wires at each side of theframe being secured together and bent to form opposed inwardly extendingportions; said inwardly extending portions being bent to form opposedupwardly extending loops beyond the inwardly extending portions in whichloops the pair of wires are parallel and are disposed closely adjacent;the respective loops having narrow entrances at their lower portions;the wires beyondthe loops extending. downwardly to form pairs ofvertical wire sections; a pair of clamping bars supported having eyes atits ends embracing the respective 15 adapted to enter the narrowentrances of the loops and to be yieldably confined within the pairs ofvertical wire sections; said eyes being opposed loops when the clampingmember is raised.

'2. In a hanger as set forth in claim 1, said narrow entrances beingformed between the inner ends of the inwardly extending portions and thevertical wire sections,

-3. ;A hanger comprising a substantially triangularly shaped open frameconsisting of 'a-pair of upwardly and inwardly converging wires formingthe'upper portions of the inclined sides of the frame, said wires beingsecured together at the apex of the frame; an integral hook above theapex; a third wire forming the base of the triangle and having opposedupwardly and inwardly bent portions forming the lower portions of theinclined sides of the frame; the upper and lower wire portions .of thesides of the frame overlappin and being secured together to form a pair;of inwardly extending wires at each side :of the frame; the pairsofwires at each side of .the' frame being bent to form opposed upwardlyextending'loops beyond the inwardly extending portions in which the pairof wires of each loop are'parallel. and lie closely adjacent; the loopshaving narrow entrances at their lower portions;

. the pairs of wires at, each side of the frame be- V of the clampingbars.

yond the loops extending vertically downwardly to form a pairof'vertical wire sections; a pair of clamping bars supportedrespectively adjacent their ends by the pairs. of vertical wiresections; and a clamping member havin eyes. at its endsembracingtherespective'pairs of vertical wire sections; said eyes beingadapted to enter the narrow entrances of the loops and to be yieldablyof, the. clamping bars. Y "6'. In a hanger as set forth in claim 3, saida third wire being formed in two sections having its ends respectivelyanchored in the ends of one 7. A hanger comprising a substantially'triangularly shaped open frame consisting of a pair of upwardly andinwardly converging wires forming the upper portions ofthe inclinedsides of the frame, said wires being secured together at the apex of theframe; a hook extending from the apex; a third wire forming the base ofthe triangle and having opposed upwardly and inwardly bent portionsforming the lower portions of the inclined sidesof the frame the upperand lower wire portions of the sides of the frame overlapping and beingsecured together to form a pair of inwardly extending wires at each sideof the frame; the pairs of wires at each side of the frame being bent toform opposed upwardly extending loops beyond the inwardly extendingportions in which the pairs of wires of each loop are parallel and lieclosely adjacent; the loops having narrow entrances at theirlowerportions; the pairs of wires at each side of the frame beyond th loopsextending vertically downwardly to form a pair of vertical wiresections; a pair of clamping bars supported respectively adjacent theirends by the pairs of vertical wire sections; a clamping member havingeyes at its ends embracing the respective pairs of vertical wiresections; said eyes being adapted to enter the narrow entrances of theloops and to be yieldably confined within the opposed loops when themember is raised; said narrow entrances being formed between the innerends of the inwardly extending portions and the vertical wire sections;and said third wire passing through a longitudinal bore in one of theclamping bars.

8. A hanger comprising a substantially triangularly shaped open frameconsisting of a pair of upwardly and inwardly converging wires formingthe upper portions of the inclined sides of the irame, said. wires beingsecured together at the apex of the frame; a hook extending from theapex; a third wire forming the base of the triangle and having opposedupwardly and inwardly bent portions forming the lower portions of theinclined sides of the frame; the upper and lower wire portions of thesides of the frame overlapping and being secured together to form a pairof inwardly extending wires at each side of the frame; the pairs ofwires at each side of the frame being bent to form opposed upwardlyextending loops beyond the inwardly extending portions in which thepairs of wires of each loop are parallel and lie closely adjacent; theloops having narrow entrances at their lower portions; the pairs ofwires at each side of the frame beyond the loops extending verticallydownwardly to form a pair of vertical wire sections; a pair of clampingbars supported respectively adjacent their ends by the pairs of verticalwire sections; a clamping member having eyes at its ends embracing therespective pairs of vertical wire sections; said eyes being adapted toenter the narrow entrances of the loops and to be yieldably confinedwithin the opposed loops when the member is raised; said narrowentrances being formed between the inner ends of the inwardly extendingportions and the vertical wire sections; and said third wire having itsends respectively anchored in the ends of one of the clamping bars.

GEORGE A. HIGGINS, JR.

